British Library

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Visitor Services

020 7412 7332

Events Box Office

01937 546546

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and one of the world's greatest libraries. Set up in 1973, with galleries formerly in the British Museum building, it moved to its spectacular flagship new home at St Pancras in Central London in 1997.

The John Ritblat Gallery: Treasures of the British Library, PACCAR Gallery of Living Words and the Workshop of Words, Sound and Images offer permanent displays and a changing programme of special thematic exhibitions. We also have the best permanent display of stamps and philately in the world.

The King's Library, housed in a 17-metre glass-walled tower at the heart of the building, plus a number of major works of art, can be seen by all visitors. The Library also offers a wide programme of events, including talks, music and discussions, all developing themes and ideas associated with the collections.

The British Library is custodian of the most important research collection in the world, spanning almost 3,000 years and every continent. This covers books, journals, manuscripts, stamps, patents, sound recordings, printed music and maps.

The John Ritblat Gallery is home to a permanent exhibition of over 200 of the Library's most significant items. These include the Codex Sinaiticus (c. 350), Magna Carta (1215), the Gutenberg Bible (1455), and Shakespeare's First Folio (1623) as well as religious, literary, historical and musical works in the handwriting of Leonardo da Vinci, Lord Nelson, Lewis Carroll, Handel, Sir Paul McCartney and many others.

The award-winning Turning the Pages was developed by the Library and uses high quality digitised images to simulate actually turning the pages of a precious book. The PACCAR Gallery is home to temporary exhibitions. The Workshop of Words, Sound and Images is an interactive gallery which traces the story of book production and sound recording.

Collection details

World Cultures, Social History, Science and Technology, Religion, Personalities, Music, Literature, Decorative and Applied Art, Archives, Weapons and War

Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Exhibition (permanent)

The Philatelic Exhibition

1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now

The Philatelic Exhibition of 80,000 items on the upper ground floor offers a unique opportunity to see many great rarities.

Suitable for

Website

Treasures of the British Library

1 November 2014 — 1 November 2018 *on now

The Sir John Ritblat Treasures of the British Library Gallery hosts more than 200 beautiful and fascinating items: magnificent hand-painted books from many faiths, maps and views, early printed books, literary, historical, scientific and musical works from over the centuries and around the world.

Half of the items now on display have not been seen by the public for many years.

Suitable for

Family friendly

Website

Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy

13 March — 1 September 2015 *on now

Marking the 800th anniversary of the granting of Magna Carta, we are holding a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition exploring the history and significance of this globally-recognised document. The exhibition is sponsored by Linklaters.

When granted by King John in 1215, Magna Carta was a practical solution to a political crisis, but in the centuries since it has become a potent symbol of liberty and the rule of law. This exhibition takes us on a journey from its medieval origins to the modern uses of Magna Carta.

The British Library, as the custodian of two original Magna Carta manuscripts, is drawing on its rich historical collections to bring to life a story that remains relevant today. Also on display is Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten text of the Declaration of Independence, an original copy of the US Bill of Rights, together with other key documents and artefacts.

Suitable for

Family friendly

Admission

Full Price: £12.00; Under 18: Free

Website

Cornelia Parker: Magna Carta (An Embroidery)

15 May — 24 July 2015

Fabricated by many hands, from prisoners and lawyers to artists and barons, Magna Carta (An Embroidery) replicates in stitch the entire Wikipedia article on the Great Charter as it appeared on the document’s 799th anniversary in 2014.

‘This is a snapshot of where the debate is right now,’ says award-winning artist Cornelia Parker. ‘Echoing the communal activity that resulted in the Bayeux Tapestry, but on this occasion placing more emphasis on the word rather than the image, I wanted to create an artwork that is a contemporary interpretation of Magna Carta.’

Suitable for

Admission

Website

Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.

Lecture, talk or reading

Black dandyism

17 April 2015 6:30-8pm

20th-century dandyism was deeply rooted in 19th-century literary and performance cultures. Oxford University Associate Professor Michèle Mendelssohn examines two of dandyism’s intertwined roots: the European dandy tradition (synonymous with Charles Baudelaire and Oscar Wilde) and the blackface minstrel show dandy.

Suitable for

18+

Admission

£8/£6/£5

Website

A celebration of Anthony Trollope

23 April 2015 6:30-8pm

This event celebrates the life and work of the writer Anthony Trollope (1815-1882).

2015 is the bicentenary of Trollope’s birth and this event is part of a national programme to celebrate and re-examine Trollope’s life and literary legacy. He was a remarkable man: prolific 19th-century novelist, travel writer and Post Office employee (credited with the invention of the pillar box).

Join our esteemed panel of speakers who will give their personal reflections on the significance and impact of Trollope and his work. There will be an opportunity for discussion and questions from the audience.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£10/£8/£7

Website

European Literature Night VII

13 May 2015 11am-8:45pm

London is participating for the seventh year with an expanding programme at the British Library and other venues. Inspiring discussions with leading European writers will be complemented by a spoken word performance showcase, special translation clinics and more.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

FREE - £10

Website

LATE at the Library: Freedom of Expression featuring Saul Williams and Tongue Fu

15 May 2015 7:30-11pm

An exclusive European appearance by incomparable emcee, poet and rap artist Saul Williams, together with his band. Plus spoken word collective Tongue Fu present some of the best performers in the UK: Dizraeli, Salena Godden, Vanessa Kisuule and Chris Redmond. Joined by Belgium rapper Baloji and DJ Norman Jay MBE.

The British Library is celebrating the liberties and freedoms that are our birthright and this event takes place in the presence of the original Magna Carta and Bill of Rights manuscripts and much more. The exhibition will be open on the night, included in the ticket price.

Suitable for

18+

Admission

£20

Website

Waterloo and its legacy

8 June 2015 6:30-8pm

Shocking contemporaries and participants alike by the scale and carnage of the battle, Waterloo ended Napoleon’s imperial ambitions and helped to shape the political map of modern Europe. To commemorate the bicentenary of this momentous battle, leading academics and writers, in partnership with History Today, will discuss its legacy, from the forging of a British identity to the rise of a cult of Napoleon.

Suitable for

Any age

Admission

£8/£6/£5

Website

London and the Nation

11 July 2015 9:30am-6pm

The relationship between London and the rest of the UK, so often the subject of divisive debate, is perhaps more topical – and more contentious – than ever. Yet the questions raised by this debate are both key to Britain's identity and vital to its future. With Zoe Williams, Danny Dorling, Tony Travers, Ben Rogers (Centre for London Think Tank), Iran Qureshi (expert on British Asian women) and Owen Jones.

This one-day conference is organised in conjunction with the Raphael History Centre.

Campaign! Make an Impact

This national cross-curricular programme uses history to inspire young people into active citizenship. Historical campaigns inspire and teach campaign skills, enabling children and young people to run their own campaigns about issues that affect them today. It’s based around a three step model on our website.Students can explore campaign skills, and learn how campaigners have constructed their messages in creative ways. There is guidance on how to plan and carry out your campaign.

In the Teachers and Museums section you can find out more about how the model works and how your organisation can get involved.

Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy opens at the British Library on Friday with an impressive collection of manuscripts including the Declaration of Independence and the US Bill of Rights in the UK for the first time - and a rap battle from Horrible Histories.